Paris’ steampunk Arts et Métiers Metro station // In pictures

Last updated on September 19, 2016

Paris’ Metro may be well-known for its art nouveau-influenced stations, with their arching cast-iron entrances decorated with leaves, and their white-tiled platforms. But there’s one station that looks more like it’s stepped out of a Jules Verne science fiction story – Arts et Métiers. Given its name by the arts and craft museum above it, the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, the platform for Metro line 11 here was given its unique look as part of the museum’s 200-year anniversary. Belgian comic artist François Schuiten turned the tunnels into a steampunk-style submarine, taking inspiration from Jules Verne’s Nautilus. The polished copper walls with portholes onto miniature civilisations, huge cogs on the ceiling, carved wooden seats and brass detailing make it a world away from your usual commute.

crampmystyle

November 8, 2011 at 1:32 pm

These are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen. Can I reblog them? With links and credit to you and your blog of course- I want to do a post about the metros. My personal favorite is Abbesses. You are my eyes to Paris!

Hey, yes no problem to reblog them. Glad you like them, it’s quite a place and definitely worth a visit someday. Good idea to do a post about the metro here, there are so many interesting details and it looks like you have a good eye for them – the photos of faces you’ve got are really great, I love that sort of hidden art.